Immanuel Wilkins’ seven-part suite The 7th Hand hits hard

With the album Omega, his debut on Blue Note, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins put himself in the spotlight in 2020. As a composer, soloist and bandleader, he sounded much more mature than his 22-year-old would have suggested.

His new album The 7th Hand comes in at least as hard. Wilkins has turned it into a seven-part suite. Very subtle how small themes of three notes keep coming back on this album. Wilkins puts one down in the intro of Emanation, then he blasts away at a speed that can hardly be kept up, to in Don’t Break adding a deeper groove. Beautiful are the ballad-like pieces and the flute by Elena Pinderhughes in parts 5 and 6, as a prelude to the final piece.

The final piece lasts more than 26 minutes Elevator, an at times hysterical improvisation in which not only Wilkins himself gives away breathtaking solos, but pianist Micah Thomas also regularly takes the lead. It is an endless demonstration that seems to derail regularly. A fade-out is lurking, but the four musicians come together nicely and find a resting point.